Manchester City made it their 15th successive victory in all competitions after they eased into the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup with a 3-1 win at Swansea- a record which is new for a top-flight team in English football history.
Man City gave the usual classic performance, dominating the cup encounter from start to finish, and registered 73.6 percent possession and 17 shots on the night.
However, they took the lead in strange circumstances as Kyle Walker’s cross managed to find the back of the net on the 30-minute mark.
Swansea continued to keep it tight at the back in the first period and even had their own moment when Jay Fulton almost leveled but could only manage to head just wide immediately after the goal.
City then made it two inside five second-half minutes to kill off hopes of pulling a comeback win by Swansea.
Raheem Sterling slotted home City’s second having been left unmarked before Gabriel Jesus added the third shortly after for his fourth goal in six games and second in the FA Cup this season.
Swansea got themselves a consolation though to make it 3-1 but it was not enough to inspire a comeback against the Premier League leaders.
The victory was Pep Guardiola’s 200th win as Man City manager, with his side now unbeaten in 22 games in all competitions. They will be part of the quarter-final draw on Thursday evening.
Watch the highlights of the match below
Managers reactions…
Pep Guardiola during a post-match interview said: “I had a feeling that when Swansea go up front, they create a dangerous situation. They defend so aggressively but we controlled the game, we had a good-build up and we created a lot of chances, but unfortunately, in the final third, we could not convert. But we are in the quarter-finals so it’s the next step.”
On setting a new record with 15 wins in a row: “It is a message for ourselves – we came here to win the game and that’s the most important thing. But we cannot deny how pleased and proud we are for our club to break the record from a long time ago.
“The records made once will be broken so the record is there for another team to come along and break it but they’ll have to do well so it’s not easy in the modern era to win 15 games in a row. It’s good today, now onto the next once.”
On his 200th win as Man City manager, Guardiola told the club’s official website: “I don’t know how many games but 200 victories already, 200 good moments, and a lot of red wine afterwards!”
Swansea head coach Steve Cooper said: “It was a really difficult task going into it anyway, and it proved to be that.
“To be 3-0 down after 50 minutes, it’s a real test of character – it can go one way or the other. We certainly didn’t hide. The rhythm of the game stayed the same, but we kept going. We didn’t concede another goal and we scored a goal.
“There wasn’t one sign of any players – I know we made changes – hiding from the challenge.
“I think that’s a really good sign of mentality, and we got some new players on the pitch, Morgan takes his goal, and that’s really good for him. We’ve got to play against and see one of the best teams in the world live.”
Everton 5-4 Tottenham (AET): Toffees edge a 9 goal classic against Spurs
Everton edged out Tottenham Hotspur in a nine-goal FA Cup classic to reach the quarter-final with a thrilling 5-4 extra-time victory.
Davinson Sanchez gave Spurs the lead with a header inside just three minutes, but Everton responded with three of their own in seven minutes.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, and Gylfi Sigurdsson all scored to put Everton 3-1 up but Spurs were back in it on the stroke of half-time as Erik Lamela finished from an angle.
The drama continued where it ended in the second half as Sanchez got his second of the match to bring Spurs level on 57 minutes but Richarlison also grabbed his second of the game to put Everton back ahead on the 68th-minute mark.
It looked chaotic still as Harry Kane who came on as a substitute levelled with a header from a wicked Son cross to send the game into extra time.
It was Everton who would eventually steal the show as Bernard, a player who was close to leaving the club in January, grabbed the winner with a brilliant half-volley from Sigurdsson’s superb pass in extra-time.
The match ended on the night but the record it sets would linger on as it was the highest-scoring FA Cup game between two top-flight teams since February 1961 when Sheffield Wednesday beat Man Utd 7-2.
Everton also reached the quarter-finals for the first time in five years.
Leicester 1-0 Brighton: Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho nets injury-time winner to grab a quarter-final slot for the foxes
Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho scored an injury-time winner as Leicester City grabbed a chance to get closer to winning a silverware this season after seeing off Brighton 1-0.
Despite Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi returning to the Leicester ranks, the Foxes still struggled for rhythm and tempo against a much-changed Brighton side.
It had seemed like extra-time and penalties were on the cards but the Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho who replaced Vardy headed home with virtually the last action of the game to inflict a first defeat in seven games for Brighton.
The victory, however, came at a price as James Justin was carried off in the second half with a knee problem when he landed awkwardly.
FA Cup Fifth Round Results
Wednesday 10th February
- Swansea City 1-3 Manchester City FT
- Leicester City 1-0 Brighton and Hove Albion FT
- Sheffield United 1-0 Bristol City FT
- Everton 5-4 Tottenham Hotspur AET
Waoh